TracPipe®CounterStrike® White Paper

TracPipe CounterStrike White Paper
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The Best Gets Better:
TracPipe CounterStrike
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FGP-611G 11/2011 © Omega Flex Inc. 2011
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Patented Protection Against Arcing
From Lightning Strikes
Lightning is unpredictable; the chance of an individual building being struck by lightning is
based upon a number of factors, including the geographical location and the topography of
the site. There is a wide range of differences in the frequency and density of lightning strikes
in various geographical areas of the United States. There are areas along the west coast of
the United States where there is barely any occurrence of lightning strikes. On the other hand,
Central Florida is nicknamed “Lightning Alley” with the highest lightning density recorded
in the United States. While New York is not especially prone to lightning, the Empire State
Building is hit by lightning on average 100 times a year.
Besides being unpredictable, lightning is also powerful. It is common for lightning to exceed
100,000 volts and 25,000 or more amperes. A leader of a bolt of lightning can travel at speeds
of 40,000 mph, and can reach temperatures approaching 30,000°C (54,000°F).
The Effects of Nearby Lightning
Strikes on Homes...
Lightning can cause extensive damage to buildings that are not protected against its deleterious
effects through a lightning protection system. According to insurance industry, there were about
185,000 insurance claims for lightning damage submitted in 2009, causing almost $800 million
in damages. While installation of a lightning protection system (using lightning rods pioneered
by Benjamin Franklin) is highly effective in preventing damage due to lightning, the residential
building codes in the United States do not require installation of those systems for new homes.
If a home is directly hit by lighting, it can cause fires by ignition of structural framing and
timbers, or ignition of flammable materials as a result of arcing inside the building. In nearby
lightning strikes, where lightning attaches to an object outside the home, the energy of the
lightning can be transmitted into the building either through magnetic coupling of the lightning
channel to metal systems inside the house, or through utility lines entering the home.
The current induced by lightning strikes does not take the path of least resistance as popularly
believed; it takes all paths of resistance to ground. This may present hazards for mechanical
systems due to differences in electrical potential between the grounded electrical systems and
any non-bonded metallic mechanical or communication system. Once this energy is inside a
building, it will seek to return to ground along every possible path. If two metallic systems are
not connected to the electrical ground, they could have unequal electrical potentials, and if
those two systems are in proximity to each other, it is possible for the lightning energy to
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transfer from one system to the other by an electrical arc through the air between the two
systems, allowing electric current to flow within the path of the arc. This arcing may cause
damage to mechanical and electrical systems.
Electrical systems are susceptible to damage from arcing due to their prevalence within the
home, and the low insulation value protecting the current-carrying metal wire. For residential
applications, electrical wiring has an insulation value of 600 volts, which is enough for
household current, but entirely inadequate to resist damage from high voltage arcing in a
lightning strike. As a result, the insulation on the electrical wiring may be punctured by
electrical arcing, allowing electricity from the damaged wiring to cause a fire either through a
power follow current, or by direct contact with flammable materials.
Similarly, gas piping systems are susceptible to damage because they are a potential
conductive path for lightning energy, and are likely to be routed near other metal utility lines
inside the home. Like electrical wiring, gas piping also conveys a dangerous substance;
however, gas piping has a much more substantial construction than electrical wiring. Rigid
gas piping has thick side walls that can resist damage due to arcing. Flexible gas piping has a
plastic jacket with an insulation value of at least 25,000 volts, as well as a steel pressure liner
that can withstand arcing damage from most lightning strikes.
Grounding and Bonding of Building
Systems Help Prevent Damage...
Nearby lightning strikes during an electrical storm can cause damage to electrical and
mechanical systems in buildings. Bonding of these systems to a common grounding electrode
allows the energy to move at the same rate as the electrical system in unison with the energy
wave. When all mechanical and electrical systems of the building are properly bonded, the risk
of damage is greatly reduced.
Provisions for grounding of the electrical system and bonding other metallic systems are
contained in the National Electric Code (NEC NFPA 70) and the National Fuel Gas Code
(NFGC NFPA 54). Grounding is the process of making an electrical connection to the general
mass of the earth. It is most often accomplished with ground rods, ground mats or some
other grounding system. Low resistance grounding is critical to the operation of the electrical
system, as well as lighting protection systems. Bonding is the process of making an electrical
connection between the grounding electrode and any equipment, appliance or metal conductor:
pipes, plumbing, flues, etc. Equipment bonding serves to protect people and equipment in the
event of an electrical fault by eliminating touch potential differences, and bonding is also critical
in protection of the structure and mechanical systems in the event of a lightning strike. The
requirement for bonding and grounding is very specific depending on the area’s building codes.
If a Lightning protection system is installed, the entire system for the building and building
systems is covered in NFPA 780, Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.
Equipotential bonding of all metallic supply lines entering a building is a vital but often
overlooked requirement when considering protection of a building and its contents during
an electrical storm. Equipotential bonding is the process of making an electrical connection
between the grounding electrode and any metal conductor: pipes, plumbing, flues, etc., which
may be exposed to a lightning strike and can be a conductive path for lightning energy toward
or away from the grounding electrode.
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CSST with Enhanced Lightning
Protection...
Omega Flex, Inc. is the pre-eminent international producer of quality engineered flexible
metallic piping products. Omega Flex manufactures CSST, which was initially developed
during the early 1980s as a safe and effective gas distribution system that can withstand
damage that can occur during earthquakes and other natural disasters. The CSST system
consists of flexible pipe between the building gas source and appliances, as well as fittings
and other accessories. The flexibility of the tube allows it to be routed through the building in
continuous lengths without the many joints required with rigid piping, and without the need for
any special tools.
As a part of its commitment to continuous product improvement, OmegaFlex began testing its
original CSST product, TracPipe — in 2003 to determine the mechanisms by which the CSST
could be damaged by electrical arcing. The company worked with Lightning Technologies
Inc. (LTI; Pittsfield, Mass.), which operates one of the world’s most complete, accredited,
simulated-lightning test laboratories. By providing research, development, engineering and
testing services, LTI works to eliminate lightning hazards in products in various industries,
including aerospace, commercial airlines, ground support systems and electrical distribution.
LTI developed a number of tests and created a protocol using waveforms to simulate
electrical arcing within a building.
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Based on this research, OmegaFlex determined that the ability of the yellow jacket to resist
voltage was a product of its thickness. However, while increasing the thickness of the jacket
would provide additional levels of resistance to high voltage, it would make the product too
stiff to fulfill its function as a flexible pipe. Further, the testing revealed that this high-insulation
type product would only transfer the energy to other components of the system. OmegaFlex
then began to develop a conductive CSST jacket that would dissipate the energy from a
nearby lightning strike, instead of acting as an insulator.
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The first generation of OmegaFlex’s TracPipe CounterStrike product had an energy-dissipating
jacket that was tested by LTI and shown to dissipate one coulomb of energy, or eight times
the amount of energy that TracPipe could resist. The patented conductive jacket spreads
the energy over a larger area and does not allow a pinpoint arc of energy to reach the pipe,
protecting the stainless steel pressure liner as well as other fuel gas system components if
TracPipe CounterStrike becomes energized due to lightning.
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After even further testing, a second generation of TracPipe CounterStrike was developed
that not only increased the product’s resistance to energy, but also exceeded fire and smoke
requirements, permitting it to be installed in firewalls and return air plenums. The improved
version of TracPipe CounterStrike has been tested by LTI and was shown to be up to
400 times more resistant to the damaging effects of electrical energy than conventional
CSST, and is at least six times more resistant to the damage than the first version of
TracPipe CounterStrike .
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The conductive black jacket improves its ability to dissipate arcing energy, reducing the
level as it moves downstream which helps to protect regulators, appliance connectors and
other mechanical systems, all of which could result in the potential for fire. Omega Flex
introduced their first generation TracPipe CounterStrike in 2004 and the second generation
product in 2007, Both have been proven highly effective, with several million installed
feet. TracPipe CounterStrike recently achieved the prestigious PMG 1058 listing from the
International Code Council after it was shown to resist a minimum of 4.5 coulombs of arcing
energy—more than twice the maximum expected inside a building during an indirect lightning
event.
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TracPipe CounterStrike has all
the Approvals and Listings...
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TracPipe CounterStrike is approved for use by all major model codes including:
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• National Fuel Gas Code
• International Fuel Gas Code
• Uniform Plumbing Code
TracPipe CounterStrike is also listed/evaluated by:
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• ANSI LC 1-2005/ CSA 6.26 Standard for Fuel Gas Piping Systems
using Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)
• Factory Mutual for seismic resistance
• ICC-ES for lightning protection
• IAPMO ER 0227 for lightning protection
• UL for 1, 2 and 4 hour firewall penetrations
In addition, TracPipe CounterStrike satisfies plenum installation requirements
with a flame spread index of less than 25 and a smoke developed index of less
than 50.
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TracPipe CounterStrike Can
Be Installed Easily and Quickly...
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TracPipe CounterStrike provides the same level of installation and operational
convenience as conventional CSST. TracPipe CounterStrike uses the same
easy-to-install AutoFlare® fittings as conventional TracPipe with the yellow
coating. It is sold on wooden reels of varying lengths and seven sizes from 3/8”
to 2” to meet the needs of the gas piping contractor.
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TracPipe CounterStrike is proven to be the safest, highest performing gas
piping available, and the clear choice for new home construction, renovations,
commercial applications and more.
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For more information about
TracPipe CounterStrike visit:
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tracpipe.com
For safety issues concerning
gas piping systems visit:
csstfacts.org
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FGP-611G 11/2011 © Omega Flex Inc. 2011